cam for 2.7i

[shibbYbiMMer]

I am building a 2.7i with SEta pistons, a ported head, free flow exhaust, and using Megasquirt so no AFM restriction, also thinking about a larger throttle body. My question is, which cam should I use for this setup? I was originally thinking some sort of 272 to keep it smooth for street driving. But lately I have been reading more posts of people who think a 288 is fine for street driving. Also since I will have full tuneability with the MS, perhaps the 288 really wouldn't be too extreme. I am open to all suggestions, please help me out!

[JAM]

we need to become friends.... i am also ms'ing a 2.7i. its idleing at about 3k right now but hopefully its just a vaccume leak....

sorry to hijack, but lmk what you decide to go with

[mikeedler]

I put a Dibilas 290 cam in a friends otherwise stock 325i, and it wasnt really all that radical. it was still very drivable, just a little lumpy.

[nando]

if you don't have emissions, get the 288 and set your idle to ~900rpm. you can richen it up a bit for a smoother idle - go for the highest vacuum you can by playing with the AFR (rather than trying to chase 14.7:1, which may or may not work best), and set your timing a bit more agressive than stock (mine is 19 degrees at idle). With HD springs and new rockers you should make power all the way to 7k.

[shibbYbiMMer]

Thanks for the responses. So a Schrick 288/288 would actually be ok? I've never driven a car with an aftermarket camshaft so I'm not sure what to expect here. Unfortunately the car will have to go through emissions, which is a factor I neglected to think of.

[eugeman]

emissions = 272 for a more or less guaranteed pass, but a few have gotten away with a 284. Bumping up the idle to 950 and leaning it out might help you pass. The fact that you are running MS puts you at an advantage, but what kills people in testing is the overlap of a higher duration cam at idle.